Beaches near Amsterdam 

While the city is known for its amazing museums, diverse culinary scene, and world-class live music, Amsterdam is a surprising destination for beachgoers. Much of the country is situated along the coastline, and its sandy shores offer ample space for enjoying the sea breeze and safe swimming conditions. Many of the country’s best beaches are either situated around Amsterdam or are accessible within an hour.

Planning a beach holiday along the North Sea? You can leave your luggage back in the city while you head out to your destination. Bounce has luggage storage locations throughout Amsterdam along with other towns in the Netherlands. Booking takes minutes and you'll have plenty of useful features to make the whole process a breeze. 

Here are our picks for the best Amsterdam beaches

Visiting beaches near Amsterdam is a relaxing outing, regardless of the weather. But your experience can vary based on when you visit. During the summer months, you'll enjoy days of sunshine and warmer temperatures. Winter will be cold, but you'll still find intrepid Dutch locals hanging out near the water. The waters of the North Sea (although they’ll never quite resemble bathwater) will provide a comfortable swim. It's quite windy, making colder days a little less ideal, but this only makes kite flying more popular. 

You can't control the climate, but these coastal towns have done everything they can to make a day at the beach as good as possible. In typical Dutch fashion, most coastal beaches in the Netherlands are entirely public and free to visit. Many of these have actually been awarded Blue Flag for their water quality and facilities. 

NDSM

A key part of the industrialization of Amsterdam's city center, this former shipyard has been turned into the top city beach. NDSM offers more of a fun party atmosphere on sand than a traditional experience. You'll still find shipping containers and hangars, but they're now home to cocktail bars and food trucks along with a vibrant person-made beach. There are art installations, and graffiti everywhere giving off an infinitely trendy vibe you won't find at traditional beaches. Music festivals, art markets, and other events are frequently held here. You won't want to be lugging shopping bags or your baggage to this trendy hangout, so stop by one of the many Bounce locations in Amsterdam before you head to NDSM!

Castricum aan Zee

If you’re looking to avoid a crowd, head to this windswept stretch of dunes and swaying beachgrass for some peace and quiet. You won’t find beach clubs or much in the way of facilities, but you’ll feel more connected at this beautiful beach than any other on this list. Even better, it takes less than 45 minutes to get here from Amsterdam by car. No public transportation is available.

Zandvoort Beach

This popular seaside resort town offers city dwellers a quick escape as it's only a 30-minute drive or train ride from Amsterdam city center. This wide sandy beach is Amsterdam’s go-to destination for socializing on the sand, with numerous cool beach bars and buzzy beach pavilions. These are even open during autumn and winter as the locals bundle up to enjoy a drink on the beach. 

The conditions are fair regardless of the weather, as the beach is well-maintained for swimming and water sports like surfing, kayaking, or paddle boarding. There are rental companies and schools on site along with beach clubs, where you can rent an umbrella or cabana to relax. 

Strand IJmuiden aan Zee

Situated along the Seaport where the canal spills out into the North Sea, you'll find a collection of beach pavilions, and soft sand perfect for quick day trips from Amsterdam. There's nothing overly flashy about IJmuiden, but the smaller crowds make it ideal for anyone looking for a relaxing day at the beach. History buffs actually frequent this speech as there is a section of the Atlantic Wall of bunkers from the Second World War.

If you’re looking for a nude beach, there’s a stretch of IJmuiderslag (between signposts 58.0 and 58.425) that can accommodate this preference. This beach can actually be reached by bike (it is the Netherlands after all), so leave the heavy bags with Bounce before you head out to the shore!

Bloemendaal Beach

If you're looking for a quiet afternoon by the sea, you can take a 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam to the endlessly quaint Bloemendaal and its wonderful beach. The soft sand dunes and sheltered swimming make Bloemendaal a family-friendly beach, and it’s also a popular water sports destination. 

Windsurfing is one of the most popular things to do here because of the manageable waves and wind conditions that never get too gusty. The actual town is a charming cultural village worth a visit if you want a peek into traditional Dutch life. There are also cycling paths along the beach where you can admire the landscape and larger sand dunes. 

This is not a destination where you’ll want to be tethered to your bags. Leaving them in Amsterdam is the best way to go so you can more easily get to the watersports or cycling.

Wijk Aan Zee Beach 

One of the best beaches in the Netherlands in terms of its quality and cleanliness, the Strand van Wijk aan Zee is a beautiful beach situated near the mouth of the Noordzeekanaal just outside of central Amsterdam. While it’s hardly an off-the-radar place, its location next to the more popular Zandvoort Beach makes for smaller crowds and more comfortable swimming conditions. There are lifeguards on duty throughout the summer and the facilities are top-notch.

Up and down the beach are high sand dunes that only add to the fun, and if you want to take a walk, there’s a nature preserve showcasing the region’s underrated flora and fauna nearby. If you just flew into Schiphol Airport and want to head to the water straight away, you'll be able to stop by a convenient Bounce location to drop the luggage off on your way.

A day at any of the beaches near Amsterdam doesn't have to be stressful. You can leave your luggage along with valuables and electronics at a secure luggage storage facility to lighten the load. Then, you can splash around or even learn to surf stress-free.

Heading out on a day trip from Amsterdam? You'll be able to find a trusty Bounce luggage storage facility either in Amsterdam or your destination. Each item will be covered by our bag protection, and you'll have 24/7 customer service backing you up. Download the mobile app to start planning your trip!